William H. Parrett is the Director of the Center for School Improvement & Policy Studies and Professor of Education at Boise State University.  He has received international recognition for his work in school improvement, small schools, alternative education, and for his efforts to help youth at-risk.  His professional experiences include public school and university teaching, curriculum design, principalships and college leadership, media production, research and publication.  Parrett holds a Ph.D. in Secondary Education from Indiana University.  Parrett has served on the faculties of Indiana University, the University of Alaska and Boise State University.  His research on reducing achievement gaps and effective schooling practices for youth at risk and low performing schools has gained widespread national recognition.  Parrett is the co-author of, The Kids Left Behind: Catching Up the Underachieving Children of Poverty (2007), Saving Our Students, Saving Our Schools (2003), Hope Fulfilled for At-Risk & Violent Youth (2001), How to Create Alternative, Magnet, and Charter Schools that Work (1997), Hope at Last for At-Risk Youth (1995), Inventive Teaching: Heart of the Small School (1993), The Inventive Mind: Portraits of Effective Teaching (1991), and numerous contributions to national journals and international and national conferences.